Jesse looked to the right, across the little enclosed foyer, thinking he saw something in the shape of a tall, lanky boy wearing a cowboy hat run past him, sleeves rolled clumsily to his elbows.
Jesse ran through the kitchen door and hoped onto the counter, grinning as the older man beside him growled.
"Get off the counter boy, made for food to be prepped, not yer dusty ass to sit on."
"Got any spots open San?" Jesse asked, tipping back his hat. "I need some extra spending cash."
"Don't you have that big government job?" The old man growled, going back to his food prep as Jesse watched, still sitting on the counter. "Thought you'd be loaded in cash by now to be livin over seas and what not."
"It goes into an account cause Reyes says he don't wanna turn me loose with to much." Jesse sighed, "I'm under 18 so that's how they do it, I get so much a month. But I blew it all when we were in LA on a mission, didn't know we'd be coming here. Got some stuff I need."
"Blew your allowance!" The old man cackled, stopping with the food on the table to slap his hand on the counter a few times while Jesse huffed and tipped down his hat. "That Reyes fella got you figured out!"
"Yeah, yeah, gravekeeper!" Jesse huffed, "yuck it up while you can, long as you find me a spot!"
"You're hurtin for that cash aren't ya boy? What's so important?" The man laughed, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand.
"Never you mind what's important!" Jesse snapped, his cheeks a little pink. "Just find me a job!"
"Can't be drinks, you could sneak that shit for days...can't be food cause I know they're feeding ya-your growin like a damn weed, let me have a look at ya!" He smacked the table and Jesse hopped off, pulling himself up tall and broad grinning as the older man sized him up. The old man laughed, having to look up at Jesse now, "Your as big a Joel was!" He laughed and shook his head again. "So if it aint food or drink then is it pleasure?" He grimaced and took a step back as Jesse snapped.
"I don't pay for women ya old fart!" He smacked the man on the shoulder as he laughed again.
"Then what's so damn important!"
"None ya damn business!"
"Is if your bus boying my tables!"
"Really?" Jesse looked ecstatic, grabbing the man by the arms and smacking them when the dark haired man nodded. "HAH! THANK YOU SANTANA!" He started to run off when Santana snapped at him, making him wheel on his heels and walk backwards.
"So whats so damn important!"
"I wanna take this girl out, proper!" Jesse laughed and clapped his hands as Santana's smile dropped and was replaced with an open mouth stare.
"Well boy! Whats her name!" Santana asked as Jesse disappeared back out the door he came in.
"I DONT KNOW!" Jesse whooped as he ran back the way he had come, passing through the double doors and down the dirt road to the intersection and turning left, heading further up the road away from the church. After a while he came across a house off to itself, a two story house that caught Jesse's eye. He stopped and looked it over, he liked everything about it-sure it wasn't a log cabin but it had a certain charm to it. The front was white, sandstone looking from the distance and it was in the Spanish style with curved clay roofing. There was a little walkway to the door, covered by a roof next to a balcony that led to what looked like a glass door to a bedroom.
He put his hands on his hips and turned his head to the side, looking it over as someone came walking out, their bright blue hair a mess. Jesse's eyes widened as Ami caught sight of him and laughed, waving her hand above her head so her robe's oversized sleeve dropped down to her shoulder. Jesse waved back and walked closer when she waved him over.
"What a small world cowboy!" Ami laughed, dropping a bag of trash beside her as he walked up and tipped his hat.
"Small world indeed!" he looked behind her to the open door.
"She's not here lover boy. Cool your heels." Ami laughed, putting her hands in the robes pockets. "She went out early this morning for a walk, she's not back yet, said she found a cute little dress shop." There was a loud ring from inside the house and Ami looked over her shoulder. "That's her ring tone, hang on I'll be back." Jesse reached over and grabbed the bag of trash as Ami walked inside, stepping over to the trash can he put it away and replaced the lid as he heard Ami whistle to get his attention. When he turned around to face her his eyes were bombared with a cell phone as a image appeared.
Backing up he took the phone in his hands and blinked so his eyes could adjust as Ami lit a cigarette, smirking evilly. Jesse's eyes widened, the photo was a collage of [Y/N] trying on different outfits and shirts, a text across the screen reading: Which do you think? I love them all but idk...
"She's gonna get one of these?" Jesse stammered, trying to control himself.
"She can get all if she wanted to but-" Ami explained but was cut short.
"She should. Tell her she should!" Jesse held out the phone, his eyes pleading. "Tell her you'll be upset if she don't."
"You mean you'll be upset?" Ami laughed through a crack in her lips, taking back the phone but Jesse shook his head.
"She might be a tad more inclined if it comes from you, she sounded a bit upset at me when she left the dance the other night." Jesse admitted and then face palmed himself as Ami tilted her chin up and smirked at him. "Shit, you weren't supposed to know I heard."
"So did you pinch it?" Ami laughed, taking the cigarette out from her mouth and tapping it, riding it of the ashes. "Her choker?"
"I might a slightly borrowed it without permission," Jesse chuckled, "I wanted a reason to seek her out again, so I thought returning a lost piece of jewelry wouldn't seem weird." He tilted down his hat as Ami laughed and rocked back on her heels. "I do intend on givin it back though, to her face to face."
"Got it bad for her don't ya outlaw." Ami laughed as Jesse grinned, his lips splitting apart into a bashful grin. "I have a series of very serious question for you cowboy." Ami's voice was serious and when he peeked around the rim of his hat he saw that her face had lost all trace of laughter she had moments ago, she looked almost frightening with her dark eyes glaring at him framed by her bright blue hair. "Is it just for looks, or can you actually use that thing?" She asked, pointing with her free hand to his revolver on his hip, his eyes darting down to it and then back to her.
"I can. Need it for my job." Jesse tipped his hat back, looking serious now.
"What do you do for work?" She asked, tilting her head to the side and taking a draw from her cigarette that was held lightly between her index and middle finger.
"That's a rather complicated answer." He replied, "But the short of it is I do government work, makes me travel quiet a bit." He put his hands in his back pockets, shifting his weight to his heels. "Actually here on business. Dunno how long I'm stickin around. But I don't wanna ghost on her, I wanna to get to know her better." He watched her carefully as she dipped her head down and blew out the smoke gently, rubbing her forehead with her thumb on the hand that held her cigarette out in front of her.
"You know she's got a guy back home right?" She asked, narrowing her dark eyes.
"Its my understandin he's an asshole." Jesse said flatly, "And there's a good possibility she'll leave him soon fer bein neglectful of her feelin's an needs." He watched as she slowly scanned his face, taking another draw. "I'm no homewrecker. If she stays I'll bow out, but if she wants to leave I won't say I wont be ready to give a chase the second her feet touch ground." He smirked but Ami's expression stayed serious as a long silence stretched between them.
"You ever hit a woman?" She asked, her face scrunching up and wrinkling her dark skin as if something stunk.
"Ever or in self defense?" Jesse asked, watching as she outright scowled at him, he explained. "Mine line o'work I can't pick n choose who I put down." He crossed his arms and furrowed his brow, he didn't like the way this conversation was heading. "I've put a few women down in holds to keep myself from getting shot or stabbed, but I ain't ever laid hands on a woman what didn't hit me a few times first."
"I see." She tapped her cigarette again and held it out at her side. "Would you stop someone if they put their hands on a woman who didn't hit them first?"
"They'd be callin the undertaker." Jesse said, feeling tense. "I get the feelin there's a particular reason your askin me all this, care to help me understand?" He watched as the corners of her mouth tipped up.
"Your a smart one, but it's not for me to tell you." She dropped the butt of the leftover cigarette and stomped it out with her house shoe. "She likes you cowboy, I just wanna make sure my little sister-friend is in safe hands." She smiled easily, her eyes half hooded. "Her smile is nice and bright, but she has done more than her fair share of crying." She held up her phone. "Do you want me to tell her you stopped by?"
"Actually," He had an idea and tugged on his rolled up sleeves. "What are your girls dinner plans tonight?"
"I assume pizza and a night in?" Ami said distractedly as she sent a text, "Why?"
"Tell her you want to go to a place called El palacio Caléndula. The Marigold Palace," Jesse turned and pointed back to the hotel. "Its a fine dinning restaurant and hotel in one, they do live music and dances there and have great food." When he turned back to her she held out her phone and gestured for him to take it. "What?"
"Send her a text and tell her, and tell her its you, she won't want to go if I ask her." Ami laughed as Jesse fumbled with the phone. "Wait," She took the phone back and adjusted the bandana on Jesse's neck and fixed his hair just so and tilted his hat before nodding and gently moving him so the light shone just so on him and lit up his face. "Let me send her a photo," She adjusted him just so and laughed, "Say 'Rosa'~" Jesse winked and smiled at the name as the shutter sounded and Ami nodded approvingly.
"Yer one of them artsy farsty types aren't ya?" Jesse laughed as she messed with the phone, adding and removing filters until she was satisfied and grinned at it happily.
"You could say that: drawing, painting, recording, I dabble in many artistic forms." Ami laughed and turned the phone around to show Jesse the photo.
"Yer pretty good!" He snapped his fingers as she sent the photo to Rosa in a text. "You'll love the tree in the back yard at the hotel! Its stands out by itself in this huge field, really pretty. Be good for any of that stuff."
"Then I'll have to check it out while she's throttling you!" Ami laughed and stepped beside Jesse showing him the series of angry texts she was receiving back to back.
Sista:
ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? HOW LONG HAS HE BEEN THERE?
HOW DID HE FIND OUT WHERE WE WERE STAYING?
YOU TELL THAT ASSHOLE I WANT MY CHOKER BACK! DON'T LET HIM LEAVE! IM ON MY WAY! PAYING FOR MY STUFF
Ami:
El palacio Caléndula, The Marigold Palace, It's the large hotel down the road.
Come and See me, Mi Rosa , I'll be working
Jesse laughed when he had seen that his response texts had sent and gave the phone back to Ami who read them over and rolled her eyes.
"You just signed your death warrant cowboy." She laughed as Jesse started walking backwards. "What time do you get off work?"
"When the kitchen closes at 11," Jesse called as he made it back to the road. "Tell her to wear that white dress, it's my favorite!" He turned and dashed further up the road as Ami walked to the edge of the little walkway and leaned against the post as he disappeared around a corner.
On the way back to the shack where Gabriel, Ana and Jack were waiting to hear from him Jesse couldn't help but grin. A thousand thoughts were flying through his head and he had almost everything planned out when he busted in the door and slammed it happily behind him, flopping onto the large bed against the wall on his back as Ana came running into the room.
"Jesse! lays ladayk 'ayi 'akhlaq! What way is that to enter a room?" (You have no manners!) She snapped, putting her hands on her hips as Jack appeared behind her.
"Sorry Cap'n!" Jesse cackled, stretching out on the bed. "I'm just a bit excited's all." He remembered his plan and bolted up, using his hands to prop himself up. "Where's Gabe at?"
"In the other room?" Jack answered, leaning on the door as Jesse jumped up and tried to bolt past him, blocking his path but that didn't stop the younger man from trying to squeeze through as Ana rolled her eyes and shook her raven hair. "Whoa, whoa, did you get in at the hotel?"
"Yeah! I'm gunna be clearin tables, but I gotta talk to Gabe!" Jesse fell flat on his face as Jack moved out of the way, but he pushed himself up without a second thought about the Commander's laughter. "GABE!" Jesse shouted loudly as Ana snapped after him 'Jesse! inside voice!'.
"What?" Gabriel snapped, looking up from his plate of food in front of him.
"Gimme some money Gabe, I need a phone," Jesse said out of breath, standing beside him as Gabe shook his head and cut up a bite. "Oh come on, I got the in from the hotel but it'll take to long to save up to get a good phone, I'll put every red penny back." He grabbed Gabriel's shoulder and arm and shook it gently. "Just do this once for me and I wont ask for it again!"
"Why should I?" Gabriel asked, cocking an eyebrow at the boy's desperate behavior. "You have coms just like the rest of us, why do you need a cell phone?"
"I want this for personal use," Jesse explained, pulling out the chair next to him and spinning it around, sitting in his backwards and leaning on the back. "I wanna be able to text Rosa, I know she's got a phone. This way no matter what I can talk to her, even if I can't see her on my days off."
"How do you know she has a phone?" Gabe asked, his back straightening.
"I ran into her friend Ami on the way here," Jesse beamed, "She's gonna come see me tonight while I'm cleanin tables for Santana. They're stayin in that prudy two story with the balcony before the hotel on the way down the hill to town!" Jesse's grin was bright and wide, Gabriel had to try hard and eventually give up on not laughing at the boy as he laid his head on his arm, still grinning like a fox. "Come on Gabe~" he was nudging the bigger man with his elbow closest to him. "Do it for Rosa." Gabe's dark eyes turned and looked over his shoulder to Jack and Ana who were both looking displeased. Gabriel Reyes reached into a pocket on his shirt and pulled out a black card and flicked it over to Jesse between his fingers.
"Every, single, cent, repaid." Gabriel growled and held onto the card tight as Jesse grabbed it and grinned like a kid at chirstmas.
"You got it boss! Thanks Gabe!" He took the card as Gabe chuckled and threw his arms around him in a quick dude hug before jumping up from his seat completely and running from the room, then speed walking back in and replacing the seat in its proper palce as he laughed happily-feeling Ana's stare on him as he did so.
She was trying hard to instill gentleman manners in him, had been for the entire time he'd known her, and most had stuck but he was quick to forget. "And one more thing." Gabe chuckled darkly, inspecting the food on his fork before glancing at Jesse who had a look of fear on his face and eyes. "You owe me one embarrassing favor. I'll let you know when to pay up when the time arrives." Jack and Ana burst out laughing, holding one another up in the door as there was a new set of footsteps as a smaller figure appeared between Jack and Ana.
"You all have become rather loud." The dark haired youth remarked behind his mask, his accent thick. Jesse whirled around and whooped loudly, jumpin as he ran over to the door, hugging the boy and smacking his back.
"Genji!" He pulled Genji back and held him at arms length. "You know about phones right? You can help me pick out a good one?"
"I suppose, why do you ask?" Genji asked, sounding uneasy at such a simple request.
"I'll tell ya on the way!" Jesse held up the black card and grinned like a mad man. "Lets get shoppin, I gotta get back to the hotel at four for dinner prep!"
As Jesse led Genji (who was dressed in a black hoodie and a red bandana around his face so he could remove his mask and hide his scars) back into town he told him everything. From the mission briefing on who El Lobo (The Wolf) was to the set up meeting at the dance in town the other night. But most of the walk was spent talking about Rosa, Genji laughed and listened to his friend rant on and on about this girl.
"Genji its like she's straight from my dreams," Jesse sighed, putting his hands behind his head as they walked, dust being kicked up by his boots. "One look at her," He grabbed his chest where his heart would be and clenched his shirt like he was shot. "And it was like I got struck by a love arrow!"
"You are quite dramatic Jesse." Genji chuckled, tucking his gloved hands into his pockets. "I have never seen you so...I forget what the word is."
"Giddy?" Jesse offered but the young man in the dark hoodie shrugged, "You gotta come tonight,"
"Jesse I am tired, it was a long way from Hanamura." Genji complained as Jesse wrapped an arm around his neck. "I will take your word for it that she is as pretty as you say and meet her another time."
"Not just for Rosa." Jesse said seriously, his smile breaking down into a serious frown. "El Lobo is supposed to come seek me out at the hotel to let me know if I'm in on the smuggle or not." Genji looked over to his friend as they kept walking. "I need my partner to watch my back. I don't trust him far as I can throw him." The cowboy's eyes narrowed. "I don't know if he will come tonight or a few weeks from now, he wouldn't give me much of a hint at the dance. He doesn't trust me either."
"I see, then we should get you a phone quickly so we can get some rest before." Genji sighed as they reached the edge of town, a shop within eyesight.